ETHZilla to Deploy Approximately $47 Million in ETH to Puffer

Rhea-AI Summary

ETHZilla (Nasdaq: ETHZ) has announced plans to deploy approximately $47 million worth of Ethereum (ETH), equivalent to about 10,600 ETH, to Puffer, a liquid restaking protocol. This strategic move aims to enhance yields on ETHZilla's ETH treasury holdings.

The partnership with Puffer was chosen for its high-yield restaking capabilities and security features, including a 2 ETH validator bond that provides insurance against validator failures. Puffer's infrastructure includes LRT for capital efficiency, Unifi-based rollup for composability, and Preconf AVS for throughput and payroll settlement scalability.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Large portion of treasury assets ($47M) concentrated in a single DeFi protocol
• Exposure to smart contract and validator risks despite security measures

Insights

DeFi Treasury Management Specialist

ETHZilla's $47M ETH deployment to Puffer's restaking protocol should enhance treasury yields while maintaining security through innovative validator structure.

ETHZilla's decision to deploy $47 million worth of ETH (approximately 10,600 ETH) to Puffer represents a significant treasury management strategy. By leveraging Puffer's liquid restaking protocol, ETHZilla aims to generate enhanced yields on its ETH holdings while maintaining security through Puffer's 2 ETH validator bond structure.

What makes this partnership notable is Puffer's approach to validator security. The 2 ETH validator bond essentially functions as insurance against validator failures or malicious activity, which addresses a critical concern for institutional players entering the staking ecosystem. This security mechanism provides ETHZilla with protection for its substantial ETH position while still pursuing yield opportunities.

Beyond simple staking, Puffer is developing comprehensive vertical infrastructure spanning liquid restaking tokens (LRT), a Unifi-based rollup for enhanced composability, and Preconf AVS for improved throughput and settlement capabilities. This integrated stack offers ETHZilla exposure to multiple layers of Ethereum's evolving infrastructure.

For ETHZilla, this move aligns with a broader strategy of generating sustainable cash flow from its cryptocurrency holdings rather than simply holding them as static assets. By activating these treasury assets through restaking, ETHZilla can potentially create recurring revenue streams while maintaining exposure to ETH's underlying value.

This deployment represents approximately 4.4% of ETH's daily trading volume (based on current market conditions), making it a material but not market-moving position. The structured approach to generating yield while maintaining security demonstrates institutional-grade risk management in crypto treasury operations.

Deployment expected to enhance yields on ETHZilla's ETH treasury holdings through restaking

PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ETHZilla Corporation (Nasdaq: ETHZ) ("ETHZilla" or the "Company"), today announced plans to deploy into the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem approximately $47 million of Ether ("ETH"), representing approximately 10,600¹ ETH, to Puffer, a liquid restaking protocol, pursuant to which the Company expects to generate higher yields on its ETH treasury holdings.

Puffer Partnership Details

Puffer was selected for its ability to deliver high yield through restaking while simultaneously ensuring security with its innovative 2 ETH validator bond. This framework provides active insurance against validator failures or malicious activity, giving Digital Asset focused businesses and institutions a reliable safety net. 

"We are excited to partner with Puffer, whose innovative validator framework enhances the yield profile of our ETH deployments," said McAndrew Rudisill, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ETHZilla. "This collaboration advances our strategy of generating meaningful cash flow from Ethereum and demonstrates ETHZilla's leadership in deploying capital into cutting-edge infrastructure that supports long-term growth."

In addition, Puffer is building vertical crypto infrastructure, spanning its LRT for capital efficiency, Unifi based rollup for composability, and Preconf AVS for high throughput and payroll settlement scalability, making Puffer the ultimate infrastructure vertical for yield, speed and composability.

This partnership reflects ETHZilla's innovative approach to treasury management by generating sustainable cash flow from Ethereum deployments.

"Our collaboration with ETHZilla demonstrates how security and yield can go hand in hand," said Amir Forouzani, Founder and CEO of Puffer. "By combining ETHZilla's forward-looking treasury strategy with Puffer's permissionless validator architecture, we are setting a new standard for institutional participation in Ethereum restaking — one that prioritizes both safety and performance."

About ETHZilla

ETHZilla Corporation is a technology company in the decentralized finance industry. ETHZilla seeks to connect financial institutions, businesses and organizations worldwide by enabling secure, accessible blockchain transactions through Ethereum Network protocol implementations. It generates recurring revenues through various DeFi protocols that improve Ethereum network integrity and security. ETHZilla believes it has the unique capability to bring traditional assets on-chain via tokenization. Through its proprietary protocol implementations, ETHZilla facilitates DeFi transactions and asset digitization across multiple Layer 2 Ethereum networks. ETHZilla is working to offer tokenization solutions, DeFi protocol integration, blockchain analytics, traditional-to-digital asset conversion gateways, and other decentralized finance services.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the expected benefits of the Company's convertible debenture sale, prior private placements and related transactions, recent OTC transaction, the amount, timing, and sources of funding for its previously announced stock repurchase program, the fact that common stock share repurchases may not be conducted in the timeframe or in the manner the Company expects, expectations regarding the capitalization, resources and ownership structure of the Company, the expected benefits of the expectations with respect to future performance, and growth of the Company; the ability of the Company to execute its plans, the Company's plans to continue to purchase ETH, the Company's digital asset treasury strategy, the digital assets to be held by the Company, the Company's current and anticipated yield strategies, including its participation in DeFi protocols, and future performance. Forward looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and actual results may differ materially. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk that the proposed transactions described herein may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the previously announced private placements, sale of convertible notes, and related transactions, including the Company's digital asset treasury strategy; the Company's ability to achieve profitable operations; fluctuations in the market price of ETH that will impact the Company's accounting and financial reporting; government regulation of cryptocurrencies and online betting; the Company's ability to repurchase shares of common stock, the timing thereof, purchase price thereof, and the fact that repurchases may not be undertaken under the stock repurchase program; changes in securities laws or regulations; changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; risks relating to the Company's outstanding convertible notes, including the Company's ability to repay such notes, covenants associated therewith and dilution caused by the conversion thereof into common stock, and security interests associated therewith; risks relating to the Company's OTC transaction, including the Company's ability to repay such facility, covenants associated therewith and security interests associated therewith; risks relating to the Company's previously announced ATM offering, including potential downward pressure on the Company's stock price associated therewith; risks relating to the Company's operations and business, including the highly volatile nature of the price of Ether and other cryptocurrencies; the risk that the Company's stock price may be highly correlated to the price of the digital assets that it holds; risks related to increased competition in the industries in which the Company does and will operate; risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets generally; risks relating to the treatment of crypto assets for U.S. and foreign tax purpose, expectations with respect to future performance, growth and anticipated acquisitions; potential litigation involving the Company or the validity or enforceability of the intellectual property of the Company; risks relating to iGaming operations; global economic conditions; geopolitical events and regulatory changes; access to additional financing, and the potential lack of such financing; and the Company's ability to raise funding in the future and the terms of such funding, including dilution caused thereby, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and those identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, as well as the supplemental risk factors and other information the Company has or may file with the SEC, including those disclosed under Item 8.01 of the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on July 30, 2025 and August 11, 2025. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Investors should also be aware that under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), certain crypto assets must be measured at fair value, with changes recognized in net income for each reporting period. These fair value adjustments may cause significant fluctuations in the Company's balance sheet and income statement from period-to-period. In addition, for certain crypto assets, including ETH, which the Company holds, impairment charges may be required to be reported in net income if the market price of such assets (including ETH) falls below the cost basis at which those assets are carried on the balance sheet. Readers are encouraged to read the Company's filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. The Company's business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.

Media Contact:
Prosek Partners
pro-ETH@prosek.com  

Investor Contact:
Prosek Partners
ETHZ-IR@prosek.com 

¹ ETH valuation based on market price as of September 24, 2025

 

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SOURCE ETHZilla Corporation

FAQ

How much ETH is ETHZilla (ETHZ) deploying to Puffer?

ETHZilla is deploying approximately 10,600 ETH, valued at about $47 million, to the Puffer protocol.

What is the purpose of ETHZ's partnership with Puffer?

The partnership aims to generate higher yields on ETHZilla's ETH treasury holdings through restaking while maintaining security through Puffer's validator framework.

What security features does Puffer offer for ETHZ's ETH deployment?

Puffer provides a 2 ETH validator bond that serves as active insurance against validator failures or malicious activity.

What infrastructure components does Puffer provide to ETHZ?

Puffer offers LRT for capital efficiency, Unifi-based rollup for composability, and Preconf AVS for high throughput and payroll settlement scalability.

Who are the key executives involved in the ETHZ-Puffer partnership?

McAndrew Rudisill, Chairman and CEO of ETHZilla, and Amir Forouzani, Founder and CEO of Puffer, are the key executives leading this partnership.